[URL]http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/802369111/a-better-life[/URL]

[QUOTE]Explore the meaning and joy of life with atheists in this book of photos and commentary. [I]A Better Life: 100 Atheists Speak Out on Joy and Meaning in a World Without God[/I], is a 200+ page, hardcover photography book featuring subjects both famous and not, including well known atheist/agnostic speakers, writers, and celebrities.[/QUOTE]

sounds very interesting to me :)

i found out about this, because the famous free solo climber Alex Honnold posted on facebook about him probably being one of the 100 ppl in the book.

oh and they have a little youtube video:

[video=youtube;fdnWwlZCsSw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fdnWwlZCsSw[/video]

Re: [book] a better life - 100 atheists speak out on joy & meaning in a world without

there is no world without God.

Re: [book] a better life - 100 atheists speak out on joy & meaning in a world without

speaking as an atheist (and not some pussy-ass agnostic bitch like pretty much everyone on that list), I kinda wouldn't mind if most of these atheists were shoved off a cliff. Except Dennett and Sweeney, they're alright in my book. Probably a few others if I spent enough time looking into them which I don't really care to do.

I'd personally like Ahlquist to go first.

Honestly think it's funny that people are so 'shocked' at that video, but who are incredibly ignorant about what plenty of atheists/agnostics have said. The difference is, they don't have an outlet on television.

I actually find it quite [I]hilarious[/I] that these agnostic douchebags feign offense that ultra religious people would say these things at them. It's fairly clear they've never lived a day as a conservative, who largely are at the receiving end of the same-or-similar attacks from progressives in the media.

Quality posts there!

I just dont get how such a civilized nation like the us is inhabited by so many religious lunatics. Almost like those who run around in the middle east. I mean talk about enlightenment...

Sent from my htc 7 Trophy using Board Express

Re: [book] a better life - 100 atheists speak out on joy & meaning in a world without

well it was started by religious lunatics looking to not get persecuted by such lunacy, and what can you say...shit spread

Re: [book] a better life - 100 atheists speak out on joy & meaning in a world without

Just out of curiosity, not trying to insult anyone here, but I wonder if the famous atheists everyone knows spent like 10 years in a crazy prison full of dangerous criminals they would start to believe in angels/god :lol:.

Re: [book] a better life - 100 atheists speak out on joy & meaning in a world without

atheism IS a religion :roll:

Re: [book] a better life - 100 atheists speak out on joy & meaning in a world without

[QUOTE=Kat;1026772]atheism IS a religion :roll:[/QUOTE]

A set of cultural and belief system one chooses to follow.

Yeahp.

What a paradox.

Re: [book] a better life - 100 atheists speak out on joy & meaning in a world without

[QUOTE=floridaorange;1026752]Just out of curiosity, not trying to insult anyone here, but I wonder if the famous atheists everyone knows spent like 10 years in a crazy prison full of dangerous criminals they would start to believe in angels/god :lol:.[/QUOTE]

you could of course get the need for such an hyptothesis, to cite the first speaker in the below video :)

[video=youtube;tpxoD9KFpHI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpxoD9KFpHI&feature=player_embedded[/video]

i like the argument of Asimov the most

Re: [book] a better life - 100 atheists speak out on joy & meaning in a world without

[QUOTE=Kat;1026772]atheism IS a religion :roll:[/QUOTE]

Not originally, but it has developed into one, sadly.

Re: [book] a better life - 100 atheists speak out on joy & meaning in a world without

I love how it's all of a sudden become a neo-trend again.

Yes I have no need for a deity, SO I'm going to express it like a Religion.

And FLO-RIDA spend 10 years in a prison, memorise the bible they left on your pillow, find Jesus - solved. You'll even worship the fly that sits on your toilet seat, that's the point of a correctional centres. Societal isolation, you can be evolved to worship Ong the Fruit Fly.

Re: [book] a better life - 100 atheists speak out on joy & meaning in a world without

[QUOTE=Illuminate;1026925] [B]And FLO-RIDA spend 10 years in a prison, memorise the bible they left on your pillow, find Jesus - solved. You'll even worship the fly that sits on your toilet seat, that's the point of a correctional centres. Societal isolation, you can be evolved to worship Ong the Fruit Fly.[/B][/QUOTE]

oh gawd, easily my favorite [URL="http://www.mercuryserver.com/forums/djdb.php?id=501"]Underworld[/URL] lyric. Karl Hyde does what Bob Dylan couldn't.

Re: [book] a better life - 100 atheists speak out on joy & meaning in a world without

[QUOTE=Kat;1026772]atheism IS a religion :roll:[/QUOTE]

That doesn't really make sense to me. I don't care if ther is a god or there isnt, i'm living my life the same- without religion. I don't claim to be an Atheist. Atheism is a label placed on me by religious people. "Well your not christian so what are you? Oh you don't believe in my god? Bingo! You're an atheist!" No. I don't call myself that or practice any religion of the sort. I'm just living and don't give a flying fk about any of that nonsense, so if labeling me an atheist helps god fearing folk get through their day, thats for them, not me. Someone actually preaching "atheism", it boggles my mind.

Re: [book] a better life - 100 atheists speak out on joy & meaning in a world without

[QUOTE=Jenks;1026937]That doesn't really make sense to me. I don't care if ther is a god or there isnt, i'm living my life the same- without religion. I don't claim to be an Atheist. Atheism is a label placed on me by religious people. "Well your not christian so what are you? Oh you don't believe in my god? Bingo! You're an atheist!" No. I don't call myself that or practice any religion of the sort. I'm just living and don't give a flying fk about any of that nonsense, so if labeling me an atheist helps god fearing folk get through their day, thats for them, not me.[B] Someone actually preaching "atheism", it boggles my mind.[/B][/QUOTE]

and yet, that's what many do. i mean there are tons of 'atheists' out there preaching, militantly, and some worse than their religious counterparts. it's all a bit silly, i'm with you on that.

Re: [book] a better life - 100 atheists speak out on joy & meaning in a world without

Atheism is not a religion. It's never been a religion and never will be because the actual definitions have all included belief systems in supernatural deities. The meaning of atheism is quite clear--no belief in deities. By saying atheism is a religion, you may as well say that no belief in the jersey devil is a religion, or no belief in the tooth-fairy is a religion, or that no belief in lochness or even bigfoot are religions themselves.

And unfortunately Jenks, like it or not, language has labels,, that's how we segregate ourselves. Even if you say no belief in gods or whatever, it'll still translate to atheism. That's just the unintended consequence of language. And ya, militant atheists do suck like David SIlverman. But there are a lot of good ones like Dr. Steve Novella and Phil Plait.

Re: [book] a better life - 100 atheists speak out on joy & meaning in a world without

i grew up in an extremely atheistic country where atheism was forced on us, believe me when i say it IS a religion (not originally as mariner said). if someone even used a word that had any connection to what you could find in bible, was considered wrong and sometimes dangerous. atheism today means strongly believing there is no such thing as god - and not allowing any form of interpretation what god could even mean. i remember when they thought us about "there is no god", my intuition was telling me it is not so. i am definitely not religious but i am no atheist either - and no one has ever labeled me as one, so Jenks i have no idea what you are talking about - maybe ppl in the states used to do that (or still do in some butt-hole towns in the middle of nowhere), coz they have no real clue what atheism really is.

Re: [book] a better life - 100 atheists speak out on joy & meaning in a world without

Your sentiments are certainly understandable and I can't imagine not having the option of being able to think freely and ponder the origins of the universe or the supernatural. However, what you describe is 'religion-like,' not religion. If we're to strip away the original intent of what religion meant, it would then be prudent to call communism a religion, or to call a following of any sports team a religion. But that is just it--religion does not mean 'a following.' The word would therefor lose its original meaning and ultimately becomes a term that is just relative, which is undeniably a misuse of the English language.

It's like how our government has changed the word of terrorist over time. It not longer means to strike fear into individuals or societies. According to our country, it means you have to be muslim and fight alongside afghans and other middle eastern nationals. That word, which had one original, proper meaning, is now misused completely.

And I won't speak for atheists on this board, but the explosion of atheism that we see is obviously a consequence of a religious pressure cooker. Many people are tired of the ass-backward ways that have been implemented into public policy or how overtly religious followers try to control the lives of others with moral superiority.

Moreover, many people are tired of the way the religious right loves to distort science in classrooms or how the religious right isolates individuals at school who do not share the same belief system (similar to what you may have felt in school in regards to atheism). This is ultimately leading to a cultural version of chemistry's Le Chatlier's principle where a shift is needed to maintain equilibrium within a system. Hence it looks as though the atheists have become zealots for atheism; and no doubt, quite a few are.

Going back to the op, I haven't looked at celebrities or public figures who share the view of atheism other than the ones that are notoriously known for it, but it certainly helps to know some might be out there, if not for the power to help change some policy or some idea, then at least for identifying with someone who shares similar beliefs.

Re: [book] a better life - 100 atheists speak out on joy & meaning in a world without

But why do we need to look at others for influence or guidance?

To me spirituality is what you make of it; nothing or no one else should influence it. However, in terms of Kit-Kats situation yes you can be extremely influenced (take fundamentalists for example). But you should have a right to practise as you may wish. And I honestly feel sorry for those people who are forced to practise their religion, whatever that may be.

To me I found no reason to practise religion, basing on ethical and moral values a human has and practises. I find no comfort believing that everything will be all right if I communicate to a deity in any form or way. In a sense I may agree with what Jenks states, that why do we need to be branded?

Re: [book] a better life - 100 atheists speak out on joy & meaning in a world without

[QUOTE=Illuminate;1027242]But why do we need to look at others for influence or guidance? [/quote]

Well, everyone needs a mentor to some extent. For instance, we look at Carl Sagan as a pioneer of 20th century rationality. I like Neil Tyson DeGrasse for his ability to humbly disperse the knowledge of science to the masses, and I also look up to him as a respected astrophysicist. Likewise with Phil Plait. Everyone has someone that they look up to, no matter the arena of life we are in. Every leader was once a follower.

[quote] To me spirituality is what you make of it; nothing or no one else should influence it. However, in terms of Kit-Kats situation yes you can be extremely influenced (take fundamentalists for example). But you should have a right to practise as you may wish. And I honestly feel sorry for those people who are forced to practise their religion, whatever that may be. [/quote]

Well, ya of course. I completely agree with you. Everyone should have the freedom to practice whatever faith they want, so long as it does not disrupt the ethical standards of our society (ie. no sacrificing to the gods, etc...)

[quote] To me I found no reason to practise religion, basing on ethical and moral values a human has and practises. I find no comfort believing that everything will be all right if I communicate to a deity in any form or way. In a sense I may agree with what Jenks states, that why do we need to be branded?[/QUOTE]

Branding is an unintended consequence of language. Descriptions are only too long, and many words succintly define these descriptions. We do it all the time in EDM. Some people like to be 'branded' as lovers of minimal, or tech-house, or deep-house, or what have you and they become elitist about it. Kind of an irony of the situation.

Re: [book] a better life - 100 atheists speak out on joy & meaning in a world without

[QUOTE=Kat;1027144]i grew up in an extremely atheistic country where atheism was forced on us, believe me when i say it IS a religion (not originally as mariner said). if someone even used a word that had any connection to what you could find in bible, was considered wrong and sometimes dangerous. atheism today means strongly believing there is no such thing as god - and not allowing any form of interpretation what god could even mean. i remember when they thought us about "there is no god", my intuition was telling me it is not so. i am definitely not religious but i am no atheist either - and no one has ever labeled me as one, so Jenks i have no idea what you are talking about - maybe ppl in the states used to do that ([B]or still do in some butt-hole towns in the middle of nowhere)[/B], coz they have no real clue what atheism really is.[/QUOTE]

:lol:

which country did you grow up in again?

Re: [book] a better life - 100 atheists speak out on joy & meaning in a world without

which country did you grow up in again?[/QUOTE]:lol: you'd be surprised by how cute our capital is, they call it the [URL="http://www.scribd.com/doc/43970888/Slovenia-the-Belly-Button-of-Europe"]belly button of europe[/URL]

Re: [book] a better life - 100 atheists speak out on joy & meaning in a world without

^i thought it was slovenia but I wasn't 100% ;) great signature btw kitty kat :)

Re: [book] a better life - 100 atheists speak out on joy & meaning in a world without

thanks

Re: [book] a better life - 100 atheists speak out on joy & meaning in a world without

^I just googled "Slovenia" and the pictures are incredible, would love to visit some day soon. :shock:

/threadjack